Universal sewing kit



y 2 9 J. H. REICHART 2,249,980

" UNIVERSAL SEWING KIT Filed'Aug. 20, 1938 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. Jqm s /z ff/rwflkr.

July 22,1941. J. H. REICHART 2,249,980

UNIVERSAL SEWING KIT Filed Aug. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JJSWEJ FEM/melt ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 22, 1941 UNI TE D STATES PAT ENT OFF l C-E UNIVERSAL SEWING KIT James H. minim, Munc'ialnd.

Application August 20, 1938, Serial No. 225,893

(c1..22s 1o7) 9 Claims.

"This invention relates to a sewing box.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a sewing :box which not only is of ornamental. character but which is primarily of :utilitarian character and characterized by "a container portion adapted to receive sewing accesseries, such as scissors, tape-measure, and the like, and associating therewith-'a'spoo'l tray'su'itably supporting 'a plurality of spools, the tray being hollow at its central portion to permit access'tcthe major portion-of the-container when the tray is supported-thereby, and =a-cover construction whichnormally conceals the interior of"the spool tray and the container.

further object of the invention is to construct the container portion, cover and tray so that omission of the tray does 'not destroy-the utility of .the container portion and cover as-a covered receptacle.

"Another object of the invention-is to provide on "the interior of the cover a cushion-for-pins, needles'and the like.

Another object of the invention isto provide Ontheinteriorof thecover a thim'ble-support.

Another object of the invention is to provide,

pocket arrangement adapted to support a spool, if desired, pins, buttons, fasteners and thelike.

Another object of the invention is *to provide, when desired, a thread cutter arrangement.

The "chief feature of the inventionconsis'ts in the "provisionof -means whereby all of the aforesaid objects are accomplished,

Other features of the invention will appear morefull-y"hereinafter.

The 'full'nature of the invention will be-un- 'derstood from the accompanying draw'ing-sf-and the followingdescription and claims:

In the drawings,

Fig. '1 is "a'centr-al sectional view through one form of the invention, parts being shown in the closed position.

Fig. 2 is a top planViewo'f half of one form of the invention, the cover being removed.

Fig. 3 is'a top plan-view of-half of one'form of the'invention including a pocketed type cover. 4 is a sedtional'viewtaken on line 4--5 "o'f and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. J5 is a sectional view of the portions of the adjacent cooperatingparts at their 'asso- 'ciation. Eigi dis a similar vie-W of: still 'a "furthermodiform of the invention.

:Fig. .7: is :a top plan view or a portion'o'f one form of container portion and associated t'ray I when desired, on the "exterior of the cover a (spindle-spool type) with cover removed, and. provided with thread cutting means.

Fig. -8. is *a sim'ilar view of a similarly provided structure, the tray being of the spindleless type.

Fig. '9 is a vertical sectional view of the side portion of the container portion and cover (shown in full lines) and in t'he relative positions'when a tray (shownin-dottedlines) is associated therewith,

fFig. l'0:-is a horizontalsectional view o'f a-portion of a tray provided with'a thread cutter.-

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a modified (form of pin cushion and thimble-holder.

"In the drawings Ill-indicates a bowl like container having a relieved bottom portion I l, and. an inwardly directed upper side wall 12 provided with a 1 relatively wide opening 13. :Portions l0 and l 2 arasuitablysecured together as indicated at M, or the :portions may be secured together by any other convenient connection if made in two pieces or may beIforrn'ed from a single piece of sheet metal or of plastic composition or the like.

Suspended from the edge l3 and nested in the container-is a spool tray having the troughlike portion I-5,the innerperip'heral edge l6 of which is "of beaded character and which provides a relatively .largecentral opening so that access maybe had :through the tray into the portion of the, container therebeneath for theremoval and insertion of scissors, tape measure-and the 7 like, constituting the usual sewing accessories.

The .upper--edgeseeFig. 1of the spool tray is extended outwardly as at I! and thence upwardly as at I3 and thence outwardly and downwardly as at IS. The portions I8 and [9 form thesupport for the spool tray upon the edge l3 of the container. pendedin the container in nested relation.

The portions [8 and I! form a'seat for the inturned edge 20 of a relatively flat dished cover 2| centrally apertured as at 2-2.' Adjacent the aperture 22 the cover is progressively ofiset as atzZ'Sa, :2312 :and 230. This forms an ornamental cover. A bolt or like anchorage"24, extends through the opening '22 andmounts a knob 25 thereon by which 'the cover may be removed, exposing the spool tray and the container .in- 'terior through the opening. in the spool tray.

As shown clearly-in Fig 2,,the spools A may lie in the'trough like arrangement ,in end to end relation, Also as shown in'Ei gJ'Z, the spools in certain instances may be positioned in up right relation, theseflspoolsj-being indicated by the -letter B and they are retained "in that to.

Thus, thespoohtray is sussition by the spindles 26 having an enlarged portion 2'! bearing on the interior of the trough like spool tray and having the portion 28 extending through the same and enlarged as at 29 for rigidly mounting the spindle on the tray. The upper end of the spindle 26 terminates below the portion IT. The bottom portion of the spool tray is of relatively shallow curve character, as illustrated, so that thevertical spools have diametrical engagement with the trough portion, as shown in Fig. 1, and the lower end of the spool just clears the enlargement 21 of the spindle 26.

The advantage of the spindle type spool support is that the thread on the spool is kept out of contact with the surface of the trayand also all of the thread surface of the'spool is subjected to about the same amount of light, so there is uniform fading should the same occur. This type of support also has an additional advantage, to-wit, that the seamstress need only engage the loose end of the thread and pull the thread, and the thread will unwind by spool rotation on the spindle. The vertical type spool support makes it easy to see the size, kind and color of thread on the spool.

. The disadvantage of this type of mounting is that if the loose end of the thread on the spool is not secured to the spool, the loose end loops may fall down along and around the spool and the spindle.

The advantage of th end-to-end arrangement of the spools is that th thread may be unwound therefrom by merely pulling the same. When the required amount of thread is removed, the

spool may be reversely rotated with the finger and the loose threadend rerolled on .the spool and when so wound, there is no displacement or tangling of the loose end loops. 'Because the spools lie in a circular tray, the ends of adjacent spools are arranged in an angular position, thereby exposing the sizes stamped on the spool ends.

The disadvantage of this type of mounting is that the thread surface which is uppermost, is

exposed to the light while the thread surface which is positioned immediately adjacent, the

trough like portion of the tray is subjected to less light and, therefore, this arrangement permits possibility of unequal fading if the spools remain uncovered and exposed to sunlight for any appreciable time. For, the same capacity tray,

- more. spools may be accommodated in a tray hava spindle and then replace the spool on the sp1ndle,since definite location is required for the latter should removal and replacement of the spool be necessary or desirable.

Each of these types of spool support, therefore, has certain advantages and certain disadvantages. Thereis, however, disclosed in Fig. 2 a tray which combines both types of spool supports and it is to be understood that either type of. support maybe provided without provision of the other type or that both may be utilized as shown.

. like.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 1. In said figure, there is disclosed in the offset or socketed portion of the cover 21 a spacing washer 30 through which the bolt 24 extends. Bearing on thewasher is a dished disc 3| and similarly apertured. It is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the offset portion 2311, as shown, or it may be of the same or slightly greater diameter, if desired.

Included between the offset portion of the cover and the disc 3| is a cushion 32 which may be of felt, or the like. It may also be provided with lubricant. It may also be impregnated with sharpening material, such as emery dust and the The peripheral edge as indicated at 32a, of this cushion disc, is exposed between the disc 3| and. the portion of the cover immediately adjacent the offset portion 23a thereof.

As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the cushion is of partial spherical form or of relatively flat conical type, the purpose of which is clearly illustrated by referring to the pin C and the needle D shown. The pin C, when projected into the cushion, has it head portion positioned at a considerable distance from the interior of th cover 2| so it may be readily grasped for removal. In a similar manner the needle has it exposed end portion positioned at a considerable distance from the interior of the cover. I

The disc 3| may be of resilient character and may be brought into engagement in its limiting position against the fibr washer which in turn bears upon the interior of the cover adjacent the opening 22 therein. Another spacer 33 is provided which bears on the inner face of the disc 3! at one end and at its opposite end there is mounted a flexible rubber like disc 34 that projects beyond the peripheral outline of the spacer A washer 35 bears against the opposite face of the rubber like disc 34 and-against said Washer bears the head portion of the bolt 24, before mentioned.

The diameter of the rubber like disc 34 is the same or slightly greater than the diameter of a thimble at its mouth or entrance so that the thimble, indicated by the letter E in Fig. 1, may be slipped over said rubber lik disc 34 and the spacer 33 until its open end engages the metal disc 3| when, due to the taper in the thimble the rubber like disc frictionally retains the thimble on the cover. This disc will retain substantially any size thimble. 7

As shown clearly by a comparison of the positions indicated by needle D and pinC, the pins and needles are held in concave or conical like position in rayed relation, thereby making it impossible for one pin or needle to hide the adjacent needle and pin, and as shown, there is a considerable angle of accommodation provided by the aforesaid pin cushion construction.

The lubricant and sharpening materials serve to maintain the pins and needles in sharp and rustproof condition,

It will also be apparent if a plurality of needles of different sizes are secured in the cushion that the cover may be held by the knob 25 in one hand and there is immediately exposed the various needles so that the seamstress may make the desired selection therefrom without the necessity of handling a large number of needle packages in order to obtain the desired size of needle, or of trying to make a selection from a forest of needles and pins in the usual pin cushion.

The inturned edge of the cover 20 to a certain :aazaoso "extent eliminates the bell sound effect in ithe cover.

Inl ligs 3. and4 a modified form of coverconstruction is illustrated and: numerals .of the 'one hundred series indicate like or similar parts. '5 I20 indicates the peripheral edge of the cover and I2| the dished body portion thereof. This embodiment of the invention, however, illusitrates thecover adjacent its outereclge as be- "ing provided exteriorly with a plurality of'space'd *10 pockets I40 which near theirinneraportions have .a relatively circular outline flat portion Ml therein. The pocket walls merge asat |42,l43 andI-M into theremainder .of the cover. These pockets serve as separate trays for buttons, .fastenersand pins, the pins'being obtained from the paper roll normally contained within the container.

In-Fig. a modified'form'of the invention is illustrated andherein numerals of the two hun- -dre-d series indicate like or similar parts. This -form of the invention .diifersfrom that shown in Fig. 1 in that the portion "2 59 extends upv.wardly instead of downwardly jto overlie the cover portion 212. Alsoin this form of'the in- .vention, the cover may be provided with-a depending flange 228a. This type of construction permitsthe'trough to be removed-and the cover to be mounted "directly 'onthe container at the edge r213 thereof should such an arrangement be desired.

:Fig. 6 illustrates a further modified form of the invention and numerals of the'three hun- ':dred series indicate like or similar parts. In "thisiform of the'invention the samefunction is accomplished by the turned "back depending portion 3223a of the cover 32!. In this form of the invention, the flange 359 on the tray extends downwardly instead of upwardly, .as shown in Fig. 5. This form of' the invention also .is :capable of arrangement such that the .cover may be mounted on the container without the traybeing interposed therebetween. Of .course,

"it is to be understood the trays shown inE'igs. 3 i5 and "6 may be of spindle or spindleless char- :acter, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and previously described or be of both characters.

It will be obvious from an examination of 1 with relation to spools A that if, as and i when desired, the cover 2i may be inverted from the position shown in Fig. 1 and. the knob 25 will readily seat in the wide mouth or opening T5 of the spool tray without interference therefrom and the curled edge 25! of the cover-can ,1

again be seated on the ledge l l of the spool tray.

'Of course, it is to be understood whenthe invention includes the pins 26, these must. of necessity be of such a height that theydo not .engage the cover when in inverted relation in and supported upon said tray. This inversion feature may be utilized by the seamstress whenever desired, in the continued use of the device. "However, it has a separate advantage, .to-wit, it permits the inverted nesting of the cover with respect to the spool tray so that the tray. cover and container may be assembled .in .nested relation in a minimum volume, withoutrany projection interfering with small packaging;

,It will also be noted in Fig. .1 that the thi-mble 7 E when, utilized, does not project beyond the plane .of. the beaded edge 2!! sothat if 'athimbl'e be packaged with the container, the thimble" will notconstitute anobstruction tominimum volume M packaging. Similarly, the spools A :may be thread "cutter.

packaged therein withoutinterference with the cover in itsinverted'relation' forjpac'ka'ging or use. In 'thelatter instance; due to the dimension of the parts illustrated, the cover retains the J spools Aiin'the trough even though the carton containing the .(device' be inverted, which would :not be the'case if the cover were mounted as shown'in Fig.1 and the device packaged with the-parts in that position.

[It also willbeclear from an inspection of Fig. 1 that'when the seamstress removes the cover from the device and sets the same on a supportsuehas a table or the like, the thimble will notconstitute a bearing for the cover but the thimble justclears said support, the cover be- -ingsupported'on its edge 20. The dome shape of'thecover, therefore, not only is provided so asitoinsure clearance of pins, needles and the like; mounted in the cushion but is also of such characterthat it serves as a spool retainer dur- --in'g=shipm'ent when the cover is inverted,- because theidomeshaped portion of the cover then is in depressed relation with respectt'o thespool tray.

.ihfurthermore, it is'to be understood the spool -tray,'-asi shown in Figs. 1,2 and 5, mavhave fformed therein adjacent the spindles or even if .the spindles were not provided in similarly ispaced relation, :fiat portion'sof the character, shown at 1 41 Fig. 3. This would require the .bottom to "be extended'in flattened relation and zthefside'wallsfremote from the portions I! and H5 rand. adjacent thebottom l5' to be correspondingly :formed so as to merge into each-of saidfiat- .tened portions. When-thus "formed, there would v:becprovided a'fiatbottom spacefor theseveral rspools. permitting'the same to bepositioned in the spool tray in vertical'relation.

I'nrFig. '7 of the drawings, numerals of the four hundred-series indicate like or similar parts, although hereinthe spools of thread are again designated by the letter'B. Herein the side wall portion o'f'the tray near'the top in other words adjacent the' offset portions i'.'-is provided with :a plurality of inwardly struck portions 466.

' :These portions are formed by aperturing the sidewall as at'-4il'lsee Fig. 10. The arrangement is su'ch'that between each pair of spools there is provided one projection. The method of :utilizing the "same is set forth hereinafter "with reference to Fig. 8. Eachprojection constitutes a thread cutter.

In Fig. '8 numerals-of the five hundred series indicate-like or similar parts. The form of the invention herein is such that the spools "desig- .natedby the letter A may be moved around in the trough 5'55 01 the tray until the selected spool of thread in is positioned adjacent the thread cutter 5% formed in the manner shown in Fig. 1G ior'thread cutter 450.

The loose end of the'thre'ad A is then passed through the opening formed'by the'thread cutter and thefin er of the seamstress indicated by the letter C, presses the threadagainst the side wall of the tray'immediately adjacent the The other hand of the seamstress then pulls on the loose end or the thread A, after-the desired'a'i'nount of the'thre'ad pre- Viou'slyhasbeen unwound "from the spool, and

since the thread is held by ,the finger C, the

thread is severed *by the cutterfilltl. The "severance is of the following character. It is somewhat frayed. The advantage thereof is as follows:

This fraying permits the thread to be readily threaded through'the eye of "the needle The er'nployment of the thread cutter prevents cutting of the fingers of the seamstress by severing the thread by hand. Cutting of the thread by a shears or razor blade provides an end that is blunt and the severance is such that when the thread is just slightly less than the size of the eye of the needle, the severance will spread slightly the fibers of the thread so that it is the diameter of the thread utilized.

The advantages of the thread cutter illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, Fig. 7 representing the spindle type tray and Fig. 8 the spindless type tray embodiments of the invention, is that the thread cutter arrangement is always available in juxtaposition to the thread supply. Therefore, it cannot become lost or mislaid like scissors or a razor blade.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention prevlously broadly described. Herein numerals of the six hundred series indicate like or similar parts. 6H] represents the bottom of the receptacle, 6I2 the top portion thereof, 6I4 the union therebetween, if, as and when the receptacle is so formed. Herein the upper edge N3 of the receptacle is provided with a downwardly directed flange portion 693 which in turn is provided with an inwardly directed flange portion 664, in turn provided with a protected edge in the form of a return bend arrangement or beading 605. The diameter of the opening defined by the beading is slightly greater than the diameter of the tray herein shown dotted and indicated by the numeral SIS. ing BIB as shown and includes-at its upper edge an outwardly directed flange portion 6", an'upwardly directed extension 6I8 thereof, and then an outwardly and downwardly directed portion 6 I 9 which overlies the upper portion 6 I 2 adjacent the upper edge 6I3 thereof, all as shown in Fig. 9. Whenever desired, portions BIB and SIS may be omitted.

The cover 62! has the beaded edge 620 and said beaded edge is adapted to rest in the grooved channel or seat provided by the portions ISIS and BI! of the tray or the portions 603 and 684 at the upper edge of the receptacle or container forming portion of the device. If the tray is not utilized, the cover is in direct contact with the base portionof the device. If the tray is utilized, the cover is positioned as shown in Fig. 9 with reference to the tray and the base or con tainer portion.

In Fig. 11 a modified form of pin cushion and thimble holder is illustrated. Numerals of the I!!!) series similar to the primary numerals indicate like or equivalent parts. I2I indicates a bowl type cover or bowl like portion thereof, I25 the handle or knob in ball form apertured at 125a to receive a screw I24, the head of which bearsupon washer I35 which bears upon the rubber disc I34 in turn bearing on the spacing sleeve (of wood) I33 bearing upon disc I3I in turn bearing upon the felt disc or pin cushion member I32.

In'this form of the invention, the spacing sleeve 30, see Fig. 1, is omitted. In this form the radius of curvature, as it were, of cover I2I is such that it cannot cooperate with cushion The tray has a beaded central open- 7 -I32 and disc I3I so instead of the cooperating cover portions 23a, 23b and 23csee Fig. 1

there is provided another disc 123 similar to disc BI and serving the same function as portions 23a, 23b and 230. The screw I24 extends through members I35, I34, I33, 'I3I, I32, I23 and I2I and into handle I25.

While the invention has been described in great detail in the foregoing specification and similarly illustrated in the drawings. the same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character. The various modifications herein disclosed, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, are all considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a sewing box, the combination of an open mouth sewing accessory container, a hollow tray seatable therein and supported solely at its outer edge by the mouth edge, and a cover therefor supported solely at its edge by the outer edge of the tray, the tray being of depressed character and nestable in the container.

2. A device as defined by claim 1, characterized by the cover including a plurality of spaced, peripherally arranged pockets upon the cover exterior adjacent the periphery thereof.

3. A sewing box cover including an outwardly directed centrally offset portion, a knob exteriorly thereof, means extending through the cover and anchoring the knob, and pin cushion means mounted in the ofiset portion interiorly of the cover and by said anchoring means including a cushion disc for receiving pins and the like, a dlshed disc bearing thereon and operatively clamping the cushion disc between the dished disc and oifset portion whereby peripherally received pins have their exposed portions extendmg outwardly from the adjacent portion of the cover.

4.,A device as defined by claim 3, characterized by the addition of a non-metallic spacing washer between the cover and dished disc and surrounded by the cushion disc, and serving as a stop to prevent needle and pin point engagement with the anchoring means.

5. In combination a main support having an ofiset therein, a cushion nested therein, an elongated retainer means securing the cushion to the support and exposing the peripheral edge of the cushion, a sleeve on said means and bearing on the cushion, and a rubber-like disc spaced by said sleeve from said cushion and of a diameter slightly greater than that of the sleeve, said disc, sleeve and cushion being secured by the elongated retainer means to the support.

.6. A device as defined by claim 1, characterized by the cover having a dished portion and by the addition of a central handle and a thimble support, the latter depending from the interior of the cover within the dished portion whereby when the cover is inverted for shipping purpose, the thimble support does not project beyond the plane including the peripheral edge of the cover and the handle registers with the tray aperture.

7. A deviceas defined by claim 1, characterized by the cover including an upwardly directed dished portion, an upwardly directed handle thereon, and by the addition of elongated means juxtapositioned relative thereto and upon the cover interior within the dishing thereof and anchoring the handle, whereby when the cover is inverted upon the container, the handle is nested within tray hollow portion and no part of the elongated means projects above the plane of the inverted cover, said cover including a plurality of spaced peripherally arranged pockets upon the cover exterior adjacent the periphery thereof, the inner edge of the hollow tray being below the outer and supporting edge thereof whereby when the cover is inverted the peripheral portions between the pockets thereof clear the tray inner edge.

8. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by the cover including an upwardly directed dished portion, an upwardly directed handle thereon, and sewing utensil means juxtapositioned relative thereto and upon the cover interior within the dishing thereof, whereby when inverted upon the container, the handle is nested within the tray hollow portion and no part of the sewing utensil means projects above the plane of the inverted cover.

9. A cover device as defined by claim 3 characterized by the knob anchoring means projecting inwardly from the cover an appreciable distance, an elongated rigid sleeve bearing upon the dished disc and enveloping said means, a rubber-like disc bearing on the sleeve and enveloping said means and of a diameter greater than that of the sleeve and slightly greater than that of a thimble for frictional mounting of a thimble upon the cover, said anchoring means at its inner end bearing upon the rubber-like disc for knob mounting and assembly retention upon and within the cover.

JAMES H. REICHART. 

